some of the stuff worth buzzzing about
some of the stuff buzzzing around in my brain
some stuff that just buzzzes hither and yon ... and other musings from the deep dark scary south.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

American Theocracy Part 2: CLEAR and PRESENT DANGERS

By describing a series of major transformations, by demonstrating the relationships among them and by discussing them with passionate restraint, Phillips has created a harrowing picture of national danger that no American reader will welcome, but that none should ignore.

Got this email summary of the NY Times Book Review by Alan Brinkley entitled

"CLEAR and PRESENT DANGERS"

Four decades ago, Kevin Phillips, a young politicalstrategist for the Republican Party, began work on whatbecame a remarkable book, "The Emerging Republican Majority"(1969). Phillips long ago abandoned his enthusiasm for theRepublican coalition he helped to build. His latest book (his13th) looks broadly and historically at the political worldthe conservative coalition has painstakingly constructed overthe last several decades.

He presents a nightmarish vision of ideological extremism, catastrophic fiscal irresponsibility, rampant greed and dangerous shortsightedness. In an era of best-selling jeremiads on both sides of the political divide, "American Theocracy" may be the most alarming analysis of where we are and where we may be going to have appeared in many years. It is not without polemic, but unlike many of the more glib and strident political commentaries of recent years, it is extensively researched and for the most part frighteningly persuasive.

I almost always like any review or essay that includes the word 'jeremiad'. It also reminds me ofThree Dog Night. Complete book review here.

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Number of American Soldiers
killed in 5 year illegal war in Iraq:4000+Number of American Soldiers Wounded by the War:29,000+
Number of people killed in 9/11
attacks: 2,819Number of Iraqi citizens killed by US
in Iraq War: 70,000 - 160,000 Connections between
Iraq and 9/11: 0

Economic loss to New York in month following the attacks: $105 billion
Estimated cost of cleanup: $600 million
Total FEMA money spent on the emergency:$970 million
Cost of American Voter Stupidity: Priceless

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